Page 33 of Caden the CEO
“Wonderful,” Tristan said, writing it in her file. “That will definitely help. Well, if you decide you’d like for me to represent you on this, I can start the process as early as next month. We’ll need to prep and file the petition as soon as possible to get a court date so your mom can be served. Do you think there’s a chance she’ll fight it?”
“I want you to represent us, and I’m not sure. A part of me says she won’t because she’s never wanted to be a mother anyway. The other part of me says she won’t want to look like a failure, and she also is so spiteful, she’ll fight to retain her custody just to be evil. It can honestly go either way.”
“I’d go as far as to say for the right amount of money, she’ll yield,” Caden said. “You see how quick she was to discard you. Your mother is a pimp. She will operate in her best interests. That’s why she’s letting Dreya stay with her mom. If she tries to fight it—” He paused and looked at Tristan. “She won’t try to fight it.”
Tristan smiled and stood. “I’ll take this to my assistant so she can make a copy and set up a follow-up meeting so we can go ahead and start prepping the petition so you guys can talk. Caden, you want the invoice sent to your email, correct?”
“Correct,” Caden answered, waiting until they were alone in the office to say, “If Tina tries to fight you on this, I can promise you she will fold if I offered her the right amount of money.”
“Unfortunately, I agree. I hope this is one time she does the right thing, but even if she doesn’t, I know soon enough, Dreya will be coming home to me. Or I guess I should say us. I don’t want to leave you, K. I think the whole building us a house next door thing works just to ensure her comfort. But I . . . I don’t want to leave you. I’ll stay with her until she leaves for college, and then I’m coming right back next door to you.”
“That sounds like a plan to me. I’ll be sliding in your bedroom as many nights as you’ll let me.” Dru laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close for a kiss. “Cameras all around the exterior of the house and inside. You both will be safe from the world, and I want you to always know she’ll be safe with me too. I will never do anything to hurt either one of you, and I for damn sure won’t do anything to lose you.”
“I trust you, but I do appreciate you going the extra mile with the cameras. She’s excited about meeting you. Granny is too.”
“Well, let me pay this invoice for his retainer, and then we can head their way.”
Dru stared at Dreya,refusing to believe what she was hearing. They’d spent so much time looking out for each other, that even with Dru doing everything she could to make sure Dreya would be okay, Dreya was also trying to look out for Dru too.
Yesterday, Dru introduced Caden to Marilyn and Dreya, and they both loved him. They ended up spending the day watching movies, making ice cream, and shopping. Dru enjoyed herself so much she ended up staying behind, and Caden had Ian pick her up when she was ready to come home.
Home.
That was what she’d been calling it now.
Her home.
She’d stopped by to see Dreya after she got out of school before going to the lounge to see Stevie, and that was when Dreya dropped a bomb on her big sister.
“I’m sorry? I don’t think I heard you correctly,” Dru said, rubbing her ear.
Dreya smiled, looking just like her and their mother. “I said I don’t want you to have to move out of Caden’s house on account of me. Like, I still want to do the guardianship thing, but I’m okay staying here with Granny.”
Eyebrows wrinkled, Dru shook her head. She was hearing her sister clearly, but her words were so unexpected the conversation wasn’t making any sense.
“I don’t understand. Yesterday, you were so happy about the guardianship and moving in with me.”
“Okay, so don’t take this the wrong way, Sister.” Dreya turned on the couch and took Dru’s hands into hers. “I love you soooo much, and I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for me. You’ve sacrificed so much for me and Tina. This is the first time in my life that I’ve seen you so happy. You don’t look tired or stressed out. You’re not walking around angry at the world. You’re happy and in love, and I love that for you. What you have with my future brother-in-law has made me really happy, and I can tell he’s a great guy. I can’t come between that just so I can live with you.”
“But he understands . . . but I want . . .” Dru’s head shook as her mouth hung open.
“Listen to me. I’m not saying I don’t want to live with you. I’m saying I want you to live your life. Granny is okay with me staying here until I go to college. If Tina’s parental rights can be terminated and she has no say in my life, that’s more than okay with me. I can come and stay with you and Caden on the weekends and every summer or something, but no. You stay with him and live your life, Sister. Go back to school, . . . paint!Webothgotta live. I’m so much better now, thanks to you and Granny. Please tell me you understand what I’m saying.”
Dru’s mouth twisted to the side as she nodded. Her smile was bitter, and her eyes watered as she gently tugged a few of Dreya’s braids.
“How’d you get to be so selfless and wise, kid?” she teased, breath shaky.
“I got it from you. I want you to have guardianship, but Granny said she’s willing to do it too. You’ve laid the groundwork, but she said she will take over if you want her to. She actually wanted to talk to you about this, but I said I wanted to. I wanted to make sure you know how much I love you and appreciate you even offering to do this.
“You didn’t let me suffer; you didn’t let me get put in the system. You stayed so you could protect me, and I’m just . . . thankful for you, Dru. I really want you to live the life you deserve. You’re still so young. I don’t want your life to revolve around me. I’ll be in college soon, having the time of my life. Start your family and give me some nieces and nephews to play with.”
Dru laughed and sniffled, fighting back her tears.
“Jesus. I was not expecting to hear you say that. Well, whatever you want, baby sis. If you want to stay here, I will one hundred percent support you and help Granny get guardianship. But I want to make sure you understand nothing or no one is more important to me than you, not even my relationship. If you want to stay with us, or if you want me and you to get our own place, that will always be an option.”
“I know, and I love you for it. But I mean it. Granny said you’ve been existing, not living, and she’s right. I want you to live, Sister. Promise me you’re gonna do that.”
When Dreya held up her pinky, Dru wrapped hers around it, like they’d been doing ever since Dreya turned five.
